sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsi-kə-niŋ 

ˈsik-niŋ

: causing sickness or disgust

a sickening odor

a sickening display

sickeningly

ˈsi-kə-niŋ-lē 

ˈsik-niŋ-

adverb

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• ugly

Examples of sickening in a Sentence

a sickening display of selfishness

We heard the squeal of brakes and a sickening thud.

Recent Examples on the Web

What was sickening about being there in person was watching the Trump fans around me and realizing that there was nothing shocking about it to them. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024

Next she was wrenched the other way in a sickening, 180° roll, and one of the crew members tumbled down the almost-vertical deck and vanished in the sea. —Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024

Once, twice… and then her scalp peeled away with a sickening, wet sucking sound. —William Earl, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024

The way Rusty oscillates between honesty and omission is disorienting, almost sickening. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sickening

• be sickening for

Kids Definition

sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing

ˈsik-(ə-)niŋ

: causing sickness or disgust

a sickening sight

sickeningly adverb

Medical Definition

sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsik-(ə-)niŋ 

: causing sickness or nausea